Waka Flocka Flame's been busy, to say the least.
Flocka's been spending much of the year entrenched in the EDM scene with Steve Aoki, and released the collabo track "Rage the Night Away" with the cake-tossing club star. He also dropped the EDM-rap crossover "Slippin'" in late April.
The Titan of Turn Up even unleashed a new track, "Pussy," earlier this week. It's a return to sweaty, strip-club grinding hip-hop form for the ever-energetic (but lovable and cuddly) hypeman.
But as Waka tells Crossfade, this won't be the start of any trend from one genre to the other. He has full embraced both the hip-hop and dance scenes.
See also: Win Free Tickets for Waka Flocka Flame at Grand Central Miami
Crossfade: Hey, what's up Waka?
Waka Flocka Flame: What up, Jonathan! [In escalating volume]
Just to let you know: I'm recording this. So you know there's nothing funky going on.
I'm gonna say everything funky, baby.
How do you like Miami?
I like Miami, man. Every time I come outside, the weather be so, like, muggy. It makes me feel extra dirty.
Do you enjoy that?
I just like the scenery. I'm a Georgia boy for life.
Isn't it muggy there too?
Naw, man. It's clear. We got clear air there. It's still hot.
Are you making an album with Tyler, the Creator?
We wanted to knock one out. But I guess our communication got mixed up. He was busy at the time. We actually got to each other and were like, "Please let's do it, bro." And then I got into more EDM mixes. We might have something coming up.
Would you say you're transitioning into a more EDM sound?
No, I'm just a fan of it, so I'm gonna do a lot of music with it. They go hand in hand, hip-hop and EDM. I feel comfortable doing either one.
And you're releasing a whole album of EDM next year, correct?
Yes, I am, it's called Turn Up God.
What are your favorite EDM acts?
Steve Aoki. Throws cakes in people's faces. That shit is amazing. When I first hit a fan with a cake, it felt like I lost my virginity.
Where in Miami would you take a lady if you're going on a date?
[Muffled in the background: "Where in Miami again?"] Grand Central. I would take her right to Grand Central. Turn up, yo.
What would you say is the best lesson that you learned from your mom, Debra Antney?
The best lesson I ever learned from her is when she let me bump my head. She was like, "Hey, don't do that!" And at first I thought, Ugh, she's being overprotective. Next thing you know, I was fucked. So I felt like, my mom opening these doors and letting me make my mistakes and get crazy, that created an entrepreneur and a well-skilled businessman. It created a hell of an artist. I thank God for it. And I thank God for mistakes. Because mistakes are going to make you better.
What do you think is the worst mistake you've made?
The worst mistake I made was not doing EDM two or three years ago.
See also: EDM: How to Succeed in Five Easy Steps!
So I've read you're somewhat angry about Michael Bay's new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.
Yeah, I'm mad.
What Summer movies are you looking forward to?
Well, I've just seen X-Men. I wanna see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. I wanna see that Batman and Superman movie. Hercules. I can't wait to see the new 300. I saw Godzilla.
What'd you think of X-Men? I saw it last night.
Awww, I just saw X-men last night too!
Holy shit!
So I got a question for you then, that I'm going to ask you right now. [Warning! Spoilers!] Who was the guy at the end of the movie?
After the movie? What do you mean?
Ohhh, you ain't stayed for after the movie was over?
No, godammit. My friends made me leave. They said there was nothing.
You were supposed to stay for after the credits. So after the credits, Apocalypse came.
Apocalypse?! Fuck! [End Spoilers]
I can't believe you didn't see that shit.
What do you think the phrase Days of Future Past means? I didn't quite get that.
That's deep. I don't even wanna lie. The Future Past means that the past is the future and the future is the past. It depends what you're doing in the past how the future is going to end up, what it's going to hold, independent of what you're doing in the future, because the next generation is going to be the past. However, in my opinion, I feel like robots are going to take over the future.
You mean in the movie or in real life?
Robots!
So you recently released a song called "Pussy."
Awww, yes! I love it!
Yeah, killer track. Do you have any advice for eating pussy? Because I don't think I'm very good at it.
[Waka lets out a hearty laugh] What did you just say?
Godammit, how do you eat pussy good?
If you wanna eat pussy good, what you gotta do is get a napkin, a fork, a spoon, a butter knife, some good butter, some bread, and go.
How important do you think technical rap skill is to being a great rapper?
I don't think it matters that much. For me, I don't give a shit. I don't care. Whatever's gonna turn up that music and come out is gonna come out. But I think it's important to separate different styles of music. Some people wanna hear different styles of music and not the same shit that gets repetitive, you feel me? Like if I was doing the same rap as always, that'd be horrible.
Or like, someone who's a fast rapper who's not rapping about anything.
Yeah, that'd be terrible.
What is your least favorite part about being in the music industry?
If it wasn't for performing and fans, I would never like music. Like, to me, my fans are like my friends. They know so much about you. A fan's really your friend, you know what I'm saying? Fans really are helpful. Literally helpful. I have fans who'll do anything to fucking help you. So I feel like I'm in a roomful of friends [when I'm performing]. They feed me, they do everything.
Who are you trying to appeal to at your shows: EDM fans or rap fans?
I just want my fans there. I don't give a fuck if you're into rap, hard rock, hip-hop, country, blues. If you're in the room and I'm performing you're a fan of Waka Flocka. If you didn't grow up on electronic, I'm gonna teach you. If you didn't grow up on hip-hop, you're gonna learn it at my concert. That's all I can say. My concerts are like house parties. It's not a concert. It's like a big-ass house party.
Have you ever seen the Waka Flocka parody video "#ShawtBusShawty"?
Oh my god, that shit's hilarious. I've started to play it in my concerts.
So it doesn't bother you?
I think it's hilarious, bro. See, when people try to make a mockery of me, it actually works out in my favor. I get great YouTube views. Got paid from it. Lot of people liked it, and I got new fans.
Is there anything else you want to talk about?
Yeah, Flockavelli 2 drops this Fall. I'm dropping a mixtape before my album, secretly, not gonna tell the date. It's called I Can't Rap Volume 1.
What are you looking forward to most during this trip to Miami?
Not gonna lie, bro. I'm going to ... No, I don't wanna give it up. I just wanna have fun.
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Waka Flocka Flame. With Lemony Snickettes vs. Ricky Remedy, DJ Pharaoh, Sean Bang, and others. Presented by Dope Entertainment. Thursday, June 5. Grand Central, 697 N. Miami Ave., Miami. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $20 plus fees via ticketweb.com. All ages. Call 305-377-2277 or visit grandcentralmiami.com.
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